River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-10-13

crept over the wan face.
knew then that these two, meetin:
so strangely, would exert a deep in
fiuence over each others lives.
To be brief. the young girl RENAME,
at our cottage. She told me that sh,
was an orphan and dependent, tina
she was on her way to an adiacen
town to seek employment, and though
| never deemed the services of nurs
/ cry maid necessary. Z gave baby LoI
/ into the keeping of Edith Lee.
We all grew to love the girl with tn,
beautiful face and sweet voice, and a.
the days passed, she regained healtl
and added loveliness.
l guessed how the affair would end
and was not surprised when Armand
| told me that he had won Edith Lee;
| consent to their marriage.
Il hope yOu will be happy, but | am
disappointed. Armand. said frankly
81 had hoped YOU would marry a WON
an Of wealth and position. We know
naught Of Edith Lee. save that she i:
beautiful and of seeming goodness"
Seeming be repeated ..She i:
an angel, am proud Of her love-
Ny dear, impetuous brother, He
little dreamed of the trial awaiting
him when his loyalty would be so Sc
yerely tested.
One day news came that Roger
Averley was at home again.a and serious
" i'll. ! had heard this from a friend
while paying a call. and returning to
the cottage met Armand At the door
What do YOU think?' / began. and
then, seeing his face, started back with
a cry of dismay. 1t was 50 CHASTITY, SC
awfully drawn.
Armand / gasped. You are i'll. "
NO. no, he said hoarsely. ..Read
this, Linda, boy from the village
brought it to me-
III glanced hurriedly over the few lines,
written in a wavering hand.
ARMAND am going away | can
offer YOU no explanation. DO not seek
me; il viii be useless. But believe this
= am true to YOU. Can You be
patient?
EDITH"
why. what mystery IS this?" / cried.
she has gone-left you. Armand
Oh. she is false, she has betrayed you
-tritled with yoU. Oh. Armand,'
mo. trust her vet" he answered,
but, oh. the pathos of his quavering
tones. Il will not doubt her, there is
mystery here but | viii trust her
| could not speak. Pity. anger. be-
wilderment, all were mingled together
in one tumult of emotion, and bursting
into tears, | rushed past him into the
house.
\ year went BY.
Armand went away; but once in
awhile he came to visit US, and my
heart ached when | saw how saddened
he had become. Still his faith was un-
shaken. knew he would never love
any one but the one woman who had
won his heart, only to trample upon it.
Oh, how bitterly | thought of her
how hated her,
In the meantime Roger Averley had
gone away. abroad to regain his health,
they said. and after twelve months
absence returned. Armand was with
us again, and one morning note came
from Avon Hall from its master, re-
qnesting his presence there.
We were all amazed: but Well, III
relate the rest of the story just as
Armand told it to me.
He responded promptly to the sum-
mons, and was received by Roger
Averley in the library.
You are Armand Diston,n he said
abruptly. Il wanted to see YOU.
Il am at your service" Armand
in his easy. courteous way.
'.1es; well, | like YOU. was the blunt
answer. Il had an object for sending
for YOU, of course. Are you too proud
to accept a gift?"
"I-well-I don't comprehend. +"
stammered Armand. bewildered as he
had never been before. Faint sus-
picionS of his companions insanity he
gan TO dawn upon him. Yet he had
never heard that Roger Averley was
afflicted with lunacy.
Follow me. said the master. as he
rose and led the way down the wide
corridor to the carved door of the por-
trait gallery.
Armand's wonder increased; was
the old man about to present him with
one Of the family portraits"
The next instant he had passed into
the gallery, AMI turning to address his
companion. found himself alone. AIonel
no. for the subtle sense of another's
presence was in the air.
He took a few steps forward and
seemed 10 hear the faint rustic of dra-
peries, then chill crept over him. for
there in the amber light the portal. of
Marian Lee Ayerley smiled down upon
him. and beneath the heavy frame
stood a living, breathing counterpart.
or vision
The same pink-sprayed brocade, the
same jeweled hair and dropping. win
some face.
Armand stood rooted to the spot with
a sense of awe. and then-the brown
ewes uplifted. the white arms moved
a sudden knowledge came upon him.
.'Edith,' he cried
The next instant his beautiful love
was clinging to him. and laughing and
sobbing at once.
.'Oh. Armand she said brokenly.
.'this bitter tes:, the weary. weary year.
Let me tell yU, all. / am Roger
Averley's niece. he was displeased with
my mothers marriage. But when
was left alone and helpless l decided to
seek him, and was on my way when
tainted at your sisters door. | heard
her say ne was away, and-I-I loved
YOU then, Armand; deceived You that
| might stay there and win your love.
You did not know who was, but Won
loved me-loved me for myself alone.
NV uncle returned; ] came to him. i
will make YOU my heiress, he said, If
you will devote yourself to me. | told
him of our love. but he laughed ut me.
and repeated his terms, adding that |
should not see You again. nor write to
You. Armand. did not know what to
do. Should | we'd YOU as poor Edith
Lee, or trust to your loyalty and faith
in me? For your sake | wanted to be
Roger Averley's acknowledged niece
and heiress. and | thought he would re-
lent. 30 he did at last. but. oh, it has
been weary while.
lie looked down into her flushed face
and then at the portrait of the woman
she So closely resembled.
Il knew Of your admiration for that
portrait. She said; 80 l planned this
surprise for YOU. Uncle laughed ut nv